swelling

noun

Definition of swelling

1 :something that is swollen; specifically :an abnormal bodily protuberance or localized enlargement

2 :the condition of being swollen

See swelling defined for English-language learners

See swelling defined for kids

Examples of swelling in a Sentence

There was a swelling above her eye.
The swelling around her eye should subside in a few days.

Recent Examples of swelling from the Web

High ankle sprains are notorious for minimal swelling but then lingering.

— profootballdoc, sandiegouniontribune.com, "High likelihood OBJ has high ankle sprain," 23 Aug. 2017
The other photo, after her death, showed the young woman’s bloody and disfigured face, her left eye concealed by bruises, blood and swelling.

— miamiherald, "The heartbreak of victims’ families in Venezuela fuels the resistance against Maduro," 21 July 2017
But there were no cases of fatal brain swelling, as occurred in another company's trial, Grupp said.

— laurie mcginley, chicagotribune.com, "Gene therapy as cancer treatment — 'a true living drug' — gets FDA endorsement," 13 July 2017
Juno Therapeutics, a biotech firm in Seattle, had to shut down one of its CAR T-cell programs because five patients died of brain swelling.

— laurie mcginley, Washington Post, "First gene therapy — ‘a true living drug’ — on the cusp of FDA approval," 11 July 2017
Some result in bleeding and swelling, which must be treated immediately by drilling into the skull to relieve pressure.

— ryan cross, Science | AAAS, "Memory-enhancing drug reverses effects of traumatic brain injury in mice," 10 July 2017
Once at the hospital, The Honeydogs singer was treated with an IV and given steroids and antihistamines to stop the swelling.

— samantha brodsky, Good Housekeeping, "Dad Suffers Second-Degree Burns From Lime Juice," 7 July 2017
Powassan encephalitis (brain swelling) kills about 10% of infected victims.

— Fortune, "Brainstorm Health Daily: July 5, 2017," 5 July 2017
Approximately 10 percent of people who develop brain swelling and meningitis die, and almost half of those who survive have permanent neurological damage, which includes blurred vision, facial tics and memory problems.

— dennis pillion, AL.com, "Tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, on the rise in Alabama," 3 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'swelling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of swelling

before 12th century

swelling Synonyms

Synonyms

knot, lump, node, nodule, bump

Related Words

growth, tumor, wart; hump, hunch; bruise, contusion, welt; blister, boil; blob, chunk, clod, clump, gob, gobbet, hunk, knob, nub, nubble, nugget, wad

SWELLING Defined for English Language Learners

swelling

noun

Definition of swelling for English Language Learners

: an area on someone's body that is larger than normal because of an illness or injury
: the condition of being larger than normal

SWELLING Defined for Kids

swelling

noun swell·ing \ ˈswe-liŋ \

Definition of swelling for Students

:a swollen lump or part

Medical Dictionary

swelling

play

noun swell·ing \ ˈswel-iŋ- \

medical Definition of swelling

:an abnormal bodily protuberance or localized enlargement

an inflammatory swelling

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See words that rhyme with swelling Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for swelling Spanish Central: Translation of swelling Nglish: Translation of swelling for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of swelling for Arabic speakers

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Synonyms

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SWELLING Defined for English Language Learners

swelling

Definition of swelling for English Language Learners

SWELLING Defined for Kids

swelling

Definition of swelling for Students

Medical Dictionary

swelling

medical Definition of swelling

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